Every week we post six lines from a work of ours, a work-in-progress or published or a recommendation of someone else’s work with at least one LGBT character. Posted at Rainbow Snippets here: [LINK] https://www.facebook.com/groups/963484217054974
Last week’s snippet reminded me of the fantasy series I write set in a mall. The Food Garden Court is the deliberately confusing name of a restaurant in a food court in a magical mall in a magical world. We again meet T’amec and Skid, two underpaid fast-food workers in these snippets from “Old Man River.” https://authorjeffbaker.com/2022/05/20/old-man-river-walks-the-mall-friday-flash-fics-by-jeff-baker-for-may-20-2022/
“Hey, look! There he goes.” He pointed.
Old Man River was unmistakable staggering along the side of the mall where the shops stopped and the polished brick wall started near the end where the Food Garden Court and the palm trees were. Some of the Mall exercisers ran their hand along the wall and at least one of them would grab the trunk of the palm tree and hold on as they swung around it to head back the other way.
“And you were worried,” Skid said.
“I was not,” T’amec said stirring the broth.
“Yeah you were. The last couple of weeks you kept saying ‘Hey, I wonder where our Old Man River is?’ You made it sound like you were in love with him.”
Okay, here’s a little more…
“I did not!” T’amec said with a laugh. “He’s too old and wouldn’t look as good in a Food Garden Court uniform as…” He stared for a second and looked away, blushing.
Skid grinned.
“Anyway, you notice he got a new suit?” T’amec asked.
“Yeah. Must have a formal to go to later.”
“Or his sweats are at the cleaners.” T’amec said.
My Brother and I really did work in a mall food court about thirty years ago, and there really were a group of early-morning mall walkers getting their exercise (and buying coffee!) and we really did refer to one of them as Old Man River. The mall these days is pretty empty, sad to say! I’ll be way busy next weekend, so I’ll see you all in a couple weeks! Happy Halloween! —-jeff
authorjeffbaker 
I worked in a mall food court 40 years ago. The mall and the place I worked are both long gone. I always worked evenings, though, because I couldn’t get up before the crack of noon, and we didn’t have an Old Man River.
I usually worked all hours! It was an experience. One of the girls they promoted over me got into a gang fight in the middle of the mall during her shift!
Old Man River…love that name!
Love it!
This was a lot of fun (especially that last line)
Thanks!